Method for producing liquid organic fuels and hydrogen

Abstract

A method for producing organic liquid fuels and other valuable products in which an organic compound is provided to an anode electrode having a metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, thereby producing an organic liquid fuel and/or other valuable organic product and electrons on the anode side. The electrons are conducted to a cathode electrode disposed on a cathode side of the electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to the cathode side to H 2 gas and hydroxide ions. The method is carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 160° C., preferably at room temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing an organic product and hydrogen comprising the steps of:
 providing an organic compound selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatics to an anode electrode comprising a M(OH) 2  metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, producing a liquid oxygen-containing organic product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side; 
 conducting said plurality of electrons to a cathode electrode disposed on a cathode side of said electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to said cathode side to H 2  and hydroxide ions; 
 transferring the hydroxide ions through the electrolyte membrane to the anode side, thereby regenerating the metal oxide catalyst by the following chemical reactions:
   2OH − →½O 2 +H 2 O+2 e   − 
 
   M + +½O 2 →MO + 
 
   MO + +OH − →MO + OH − ;
 
 
 wherein the method is performed continuously by applying an electrical current to electrochemically regenerate the metal oxide catalyst, and 
 wherein the producing of a liquid oxygen-containing organic product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side and the transforming of water provided to said cathode side to H 2  and hydroxide ions are carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 160° C. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said steps are carried out at room temperature. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid oxygen-containing organic product comprises a liquid fuel. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said liquid fuel is an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic compound is oxidized. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic compound is oxidized producing an organic material selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, and organic acids. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said metal oxide catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, Pt, Fe, Mn, Ni, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte membrane comprises an alkaline electrolyte. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte membrane comprises a porous polymer layer containing said alkaline electrolyte. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said alkaline electrolyte is provided to said porous polymer layer from said cathode side of said electrolyte membrane. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cathode electrode comprises a H 2  evolution catalyst. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said H 2  evolution catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIII metals of the Periodic Table and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic compound is an unsaturated hydrocarbon. 
     
     
       14. A method for producing an organic product and hydrogen, the method comprising:
 providing an organic compound selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatics to an anode electrode comprising a M(OH) 2  metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, producing a liquid oxygen-containing organic fuel product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side, and wherein the liquid oxygen-containing organic fuel product is recovered from the anode side without requiring gas separation; 
 conducting said plurality of electrons to a cathode electrode comprising a H 2  evolution catalyst disposed on a cathode side of said electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to said cathode side to 1-12 and hydroxide ions, and 
 transferring the hydroxide ions through said electrolyte membrane to said anode side, thereby regenerating said metal oxide catalyst by the following chemical reactions:
   2OH − →½O 2 +H 2 O+2 e   − 
 
   M + +½O 2 →MO + 
 
   MO + +OH − →MO + OH − ;
 
 
 wherein the method is performed continuously by applying an electrical current to electrochemically regenerate the metal oxide catalyst, and 
 wherein the producing of a liquid oxygen-containing organic fuel product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side and the transforming of water provided to said cathode side to H 2  and hydroxide ions are carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 160° C. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the organic compound is an unsaturated hydrocarbon.